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Making History: A Day at the County Clerk's Office

Dec 25th 2013

When the Salt Lake County Clerk’s office opened on Dec. 23, reports gave estimates of 300 or 400 same-sex couples standing in line to get their marriage licenses. The building opened its doors at 7 a.m., but many people were there as early as 5 a.m to get a spot.

The energy in the building was palpable. Despite the Utah County Clerk’s office remaining closed, the Salt Lake County Clerk’s office welcomed hundreds of couples, families and friends, the 30 or so officiants and a number of press with free coffee and donuts.

Shortly after the 8 a.m. opening, there were cheers throughout the building every three or four minutes as officiants wed newly minted couples. Behind the cheers though, a slight nervousness continued as those in line eagerly awaited news from a 9 a.m. hearing to determine whether Judge Shelby would issue a stay on his decision after the 10th Circuit Court denied the state’s three requests over the weekend.

When the announcement came around 9:30 a.m. that the stay request was denied, crowds cheered loudly and turned their focus to getting through the line. “We waited 10 years. What’s another two hours?” Bryan Nash said. He and his partner, Nathan Judd, happened to be in town from Las Vegas visiting family for the holidays and had planned on flying out this morning until they heard Judge Shelby’s decision on Friday.